Thierry Van Den Bosch – The 2009 FIM S1 World Champion

SALOU (SPAIN), 15 November 2009 – Having always been the man of the records in SuperMoto since his win of the first ever SuperMoto GP in 2002, 35 year old Frenchman Thierry Van Den Bosch finally wrapped up his fourth World Title.

After a great start to his SuperMoto career in the UEM series, under the expert guidance of Mr. Seurat following a short period as privateer, VDB was contracted by the works KTM Red Bull Team to complete the 2001 European series and then debut in the FIM series in 2002, the first edition of the World Championship. Van Den Bosch won first time out, wrapping up the World Title at the end of the season. From then on the Frenchman has well established his name in the discipline, winning in each class and with each of the four manufacturers he has ridden for, with the list now including TM as well.

THIERRY VAN DEN BOSCH’S CAREER IN THE FIM SUPERMOTO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

As most of the riders from his generation, Van Den Bosch started off his rider’s career with Motocross taking part in several National series in France. Though he never made it to any International series due to several injuries to his knees. Moving on to go-kart racing for a short while, in the nineties VDB moved his first steps in SuperMoto and the association with countryman Marcel Seurat was the key to start VDB’s bursting career.

Onboard the SIMA Team’s Husqvarna, Van Den Bosch took a runner up finish in the UEM series in 1999 and went on to take the Title in 2000. Thierry had just left his mark on the start to the new millennium, a mark which will last a lot longer starting from 2001.

In that year the French was contracted by the factory Red Bull KTM Team, becoming a full factory rider for one of the most committed manufacturers in the sport. Taking third in the UEM series VDB and KTM prepared their assault to the first ever World Championship season in 2002.

Van Den Bosch receiving his World Championship Award

The first ever season of the FIM SuperMoto World Championship begun in Namur. Van Den Bosch made history by winning the first ever round of that Championship and went on to win the following five. The series ended in Australia, where VDB dominated until a mechanical failure denied the Frenchman of a perfect season. Eventually Van Den Bosch was crowned the first ever FIM SuperMoto World Champion. The base of the myth had just been laid

His flamboyant and sharp character of those years made the newly crowned Champion quit SuperMoto for a season in World Super Sport, which eventually unveiled to be a disappointment for VDB, struggling with his bike and team. A best result of fourth overall at Silverstone was not enough to make the Champion remain in the discipline.

In 2004 VDB was back into the FIM SuperMoto series, which had expanded to two classes in the meantime. Again in the Red Bull KTM Team Van Den Bosch entered the S1 class, including open bikes, and went on to win his second World Title. Thierry took seven wins out of nine rounds, finishing the other two GP’s outside the podium which confirmed his “all or nothing” attitude. Van Den Bosch was there to win only and he would win more.

In 2005 Delepine would start off the season by winning the first two rounds and retaining the red plate until VDB snatched it courtesy of victory at round three. Unfortunately an accident involving the duo left VDB with a broken lower leg at Melk. The French missed the points in the second heat, when Delepine hit him at the outside of the off road part, and it took him time before being back to full shape. Once he was, he rounded off the season winning the final two GP’s, though he lost the Title to Delepine and took third behind Hiemer.

A new challenge made VDB even more motivated and seeking for success in 2006, when he switched from works KTM to works Aprilia, this time in the S2 class though (450cc at that time). Thierry adapted extremely well to the new bike and class over the winter and won already at the third GP of the season to clinch the red plate. After taking his only podium of 2006 in Germany, VDB stormed to three consecutive wins to round off the season and secure the third World Crown.

2007 kept up VDB’s winning streak with the overall win at the FIM SuperMoto of Nations, which is currently the first and only success for Team France (completed by Adrien and Thomas Chareyre at that time), four GP wins and 10 heat wins but the missed out on the Title due to several mechanical failures. Other Frenchman Adrien Chareyre was crowned World Champion, establishing the value of the new generation of Superiders as VDB took second.

In 2008 VDB was still in the Aprilia squad and held the red plate until round three where he had a massive crash. In Valladolid the Frenchman stopped his winning streak and saw the leader’s board go on to Hiemer’s bike, who will become the 2008 World Champion. Nevertheless Van Den Bosch fought tooth and nail but ended a bitter second in the Championship.

Switching to TM in 2009 after signing a last minute deal with the Italian manufacturer’s works squad 747 Motorsport TM Factory Racing, Van Den Bosch won first time out at Viterbo to continue the season on the podium until the Andorran Grand Prix. An unfortunate fall during a training session caused the Frenchman a broken right collarbone, something which he unveiled only at the end of the season. Nevertheless VDB battled tooth and nail to keep the red plate on his machine and seal his fourth World Title, eventually surviving the pressure from Thomas Chareyre and Lazzarini. Van Den Bosch took the Title with a short advantage of three points over Thomas Chareyre and handed TM their first riders’ Title.

This fourth World Title increases the popularity of Van Den Bosch, remaining the man of the records in the FIM SuperMoto World Championship.

VDB celebrating with his son Tom

More photos available at www.supermotos1.com/galleryinfo.aspx

THIERRY VAN DEN BOSCH-BIOGRAPHY AND CAREER

Name and surname       Thierry Van Den Bosch

Nationality         French

Place of birth     Agen

Date of birth (d/m/y)    08/07/1974

First GP raced   2002, GP of Belgium, Namur, Sole Class

World Titles       4 (2 in S1; 1 in S2: 1 in Sole Class)

First World Title               2002, Sole Class

GP wins               28

First GP win       2002, GP of Belgium, Namur, Sole Class

Last GP win        2009, GP of Italy, Viterbo, S1

GP podiums       10 (7 second, 3 third)

GP heat wins     48

Other results

*Data correct at 15 November 2009 (GP of Catalunya)

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Freecaster.tv is the prime source of LIVE and On-Demand coverage for action sports on the Internet. Watch the 2009 FIM MX1/MX2/MX3 and Women’s World Championships, the 2009 SuperMoto World Championship and the 2009 FIM Snowcross World Championship races exclusively, LIVE and free on www.freecaster.tv.